Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Mercer Island, customary contenders for the top spot in the baseball standings round these parts, found themselves barely able to avoid a shutout loss at the hands, bats and gloves of the Bainbridge High varsity baseball team on Friday, March 15.

The final score saw the Spartans up 9-1.

“That was a big one, we’ve been working all week for that,” said Spartan Head Coach Geoff Brown. “These are the games that can give us a little bit of confidence going into Metro. A team like Mercer Island, who is always a state contender, it’s a big deal to get a win like that and do it in that fashion.”

It was the BHS squad’s second outing of the year, both at home, and their second win, earning them a so-far flawless overall record of 2-0 (ranked behind only O’Dea and Ballard, both 4-0).

The Mercer Island matchup was a Spartan game all the way, with the guests’ only run coming late in the game; too little, way too late.

Bainbridge duties on the mound were shared by Jonah Giblin (65 pitches), Liam Hatakenaka (31 pitches), JR Ritchie (22 pitches), Jonathan Kussie (18 pitches) and AJ Staff (16 pitches).

“Our pitchers really pitched their butts off,” Brown said. “[They] never gave in and just found a way. It was a lot of fun.

“I’m telling these guys: Pitching and defense wins championships.”

Speaking of defense, there was much to celebrate on that front as well in the wake of Friday’s win: several epic catches made by outfielders that stopped short potential Mercer runs.

“If we can make those plays and always be ready we’re going to win a lot of games,” Brown said. “In practice we focus a lot on defense, we focus a lot on pounding the strike zone [and] making people beat us.”

There was little time to revel, however, as the Spartans were set to enter a particularly grueling week of competition: three games in three days starting Monday, March 18. The island squad was set to play Port Angeles, Franklin and Bishop Blanchet.

“Be excited in the moment and then it’s back to work on Monday,” Brown said. “It doesn’t matter who you’re facing. All that matters is that moment, that day and who we’re playing. You’ve got to be more competitive and want it more than that team that day and that’s what we’ve been bringing to the table the last two games.”

The Spartans are next slated to play at home at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 against Seattle Prep.